Measuring rule



W. O. M GRATH MEASURING RULE Feb. 2, 1954 Filed Aug. 8, 1952 ATTORNEP Patented Feb. 2, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MEASURING RULE Walter 0. McGrath, Newtonville, Mass. Application August 8, 1952, Serial No. 303,354 1 Claim. (Cl. 33-105) This invention relates to a measuring rule.

The invention has for an object to provide a novel and improved measuring rule which is readily adapted for measuring and marking angles of various degrees in a simple and convenient manner.

With this general objectin view, and such others as may hereinafter appear, the invention consists in the measuring rule hereinafter described and particularly defined in the claim at the end of this specification.

In the drawings illustrating the preferred embodiment of the invention:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the present rule in its folded condition;

Fig. 2 is a front view of the rule extended for use as a measuring rule;

Fig. 3 is a view illustrating the use of the rule as a try square and as a bevel square and for laying out various angles;

Fig. 4 is a view illustrating the use of the present rule for laying out the ridge and saddle cuts of a roof rafter for various inches rise per foot run;

Fig. 5 is a perspective detail view of a hinged joint, the parts being shown separated; and

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the joint.

In general, the present invention contemplates a measuring rule having hinged sections which may be used in its extended position as a measuring rule and which is adapted to be manipulated to assume positions for laying out and marking various angles when the hinged sections are moved into predetermined positions relative to each other. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the rule is provided with three sections of a length proportional to 3, 4, and 5, the illustrated lengths of the sections being indicated as six, eight and ten inches in length, respectively, so that when the free ends of the two outer sections are joined a right-angle triangle is formed in which position the rule may be used as a try square. In other positions of adjustment of the hinged sections relative to each other the rule may form various predetermined angles for use as a bevel square. The present rule is also adapted to be adjusted to assume various angles corresponding to various degrees of inch rise per foot run for laying out and marking the ridge and plate cuts for a roof rafter. When the sections are folded together in collapsed form the rule occupies a relatively small space and may be easily carried in the pocket.

Referring now to the drawings, the illustrated measuring rule comprises three relatively flexible metallic strip sections hingedly connected together including a short section it, an intermediate section I 2, and a long section M, the intermediate section I2 being hinged at one end to the short section I0 and at its other end to the long section [4 by pivot pins it, as shown. Each of the three rule sections may be graduated in inches as illustrated for use as a measuring rule when the rule is extended as shown in Fig. 2.

The three rule sections are preferably of a length proportional to 3, 4, and 5 respectively, the shorter section It] being herein shown as six inches in length; the intermediate section 52, eight inches in length; and the longer section M, ten inches in length, so that when the hinged sections l9, [4 are connected together at their free ends a right-angled triangle will be formed, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 3, in which po-- sition the rule may be used as a try square or for marking the work at right angles to one edge thereof. In order to detachably connect the free ends of the sections In and I4 together, the outer end of the section I 4 is provided with a pin I8 secured therein and extended laterally therefrom, and the outer end of the section it is provided with an opening 20 arranged to receive the pin [8.

When the rule is to be used as a forty-five degree bevel square, the outer end of the short sec tion l0 may be detachably connected to a medial portion of the long section I 4, and as herein shown, the connection in this position is made by a pin 22 secured to and extended laterally from the outer end of section In which is arranged to be received in an opening 24 formed in the section M, such position being shown in full lines in Fig. 3. A third position of the rule, indicated in dot and dash lines in Fig. 3, is arranged to provide an angle of twenty-two and one-half degrees, the parts being detacha-bly secured together in such position by inserting the pin 22 into an opening 26 formed in the section M, as illustrated.

Referring now to Fig. 4, the rule is therein shown in full lines in a position for marking the ridge cut on a roof rafter having a rise of twelve inches per foot run, this angle being obtained by inserting the pin I8 of section It into an opening 28 formed in the section I0. In use, the inner edge of section I2 may be placed against a longitudinal edge of the rafter to be marked and the correct angle for the cut may be drawn along the outer edge of section It. Similar markings may be made for different rises in inches per foot run by adjusting the section [4 relative to the section I 0 and inserting the pin it into the ap- Any suitable form of pivot connection may be used, the pin 55 being herein shown as a rivet headed over on both sides. As indicated in Figs. 5 and 6, one section may be provided withssuite able ridges 38 arranged to fit into corresponding hollows 4i! formed in an adjacenthingedsection in its extended. position for maintaining the rule when used as a measuring rule.

As indicated in Fig. tion I2 of the rule comprises the lower section, thesections iii and M'being connected to the upper surface of the intermediate section so that inpractice, the inner edge of section 52 maybe:

placed flat against the edge of the work without interference from the adjacent sections. It will also-be observed that the pins 68, 22' in thesections [4 and Hi respectively extend in opposite directions, that is, the pin i8-in section M- ex-- tends to the left as viewed in Fig. 1, and the *pin 22 m section Hi extends to the right. Thus, when section leis-connected to section l4, as shown in. full lines in Fig. 3, section i0 is placed under section i4, and the pin 22 isextended upwardly into the opening 24, and when the sections are connected as shown in Fig. i; the-isection' l4 is placed over section It and the pin l8-is extended downwardly into opening 28'. A slot G2 is pro-- vided in section [4 to provide clearance for the pini22 in'section Ill when the ruleis-collapsed' as shown in intoits completely folded position, Fig: 1.v

From the above fortuse as a try square or a bevel'square; and is alsoa'dapted to be adjusted for markinganglef cuts on a rafter in accordance with a predeter r mined. rise in inches per'foot-run in a simple and convenient'manner.

3, the intermediate secdescription it' will: be seen that the present measuring ruleis-adapted to be easily "and'conveniently adjusted and connected:

While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been herein illustrated and described, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied in other forms within the scope of the following claim.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

A measuring rule of the character described comprising three rule sections including an intermediate sectionzand two. outer sections having ends hingedly connectedwhereby the sections may be folded relative to one another, the end of'each outer section having a pin therein for insertionzinto one of a plurality of openings formed in each of the opposing outer sections fordtachablyconnecting the sections to form difierenteangles,.,the pins in opposing outer sections being extended in opposite directions from theirrespective sections, one of said sections having a slot therein to provide clearance for one of said pins wh'enithe rule is Jfoldedrinto its col lapsedicondition, said intermediate section being in one plane :andl'both outer sections being cone nected to the same. face: of; said: intermediate section to .dispose'. the :outer. sections in another plane whereby an edge of said intermediate section maybe placediflatagainsta surface tobe marked Without interference by the ends oitthe' adjacent outer sections"; and"v the t length of saidproportioned in the ratio of three, four and five respectively, the openingsthree sections being in one. of said outer sectionsib'ein'g arranged for cooperation with the pin: inithe :ot'n'er: outersection to: formxangles corresponding to'predetere mined rises in inches per foot run;

WALTER O.- MCGRATE.

References Citd in" the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES'P'ATENTS' Number Name Date" 124,222 Scott rMar. 5,1872: FOREIGN PATENTS Number. Country Date 140,640 Gi'eat.B'iitain.. .Apr. 1; 1920' 671,311 IEfance. .Aug.. 31; 1929 426,080 Great Britain -.1Vi'ar. 2'7, 1935 

